Method and apparatus for packing wood chips or the like



Apil 23, 1935.

l Fivled vJulyy 5, 1934 E @zy T. KODA 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING WOOD CHIPS OR THE LIKE pril 23, 1935. T. KODA 1,998,874

METHOD AND APPARATUS PoR PACKING woon CHIPS 0R THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1934 3 Sheets-Shee 2 55 l i i5] Gum/wmp T. KoDA 1,998,874

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING WOOD CHIPS OR THE LIKE April 23, 1935.

Filed July 5, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zszw Koala,

atented Apr. 23, A 1935 PATENT oFEicE IME'IIHODV AND APPARATUS FORn PACKING WOOD CHIPS R THE LIKE Tetsuo Koda, .Komagome, Hongoku, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Chemipulp Process, Inc., Watertown, N. Y., a corporation of'New York Application July 5, 1934, Serial No. 733,934 In Japan January 11, 193

2o Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in method and apparatus for packing brous material in chemical pulp digesters.

. One of the objects of the invention is to -pro- ..5 vide controllablelme'ans for evenly distributing chips or the like in a digester during the packing operation, so that the chips will be more densely and moreuniformly packed than heretofore.

Such packing permits me to improve the cooking eiliciency, as it enables me to increase the output V,per cook and also the output per day, reduce f chemicals and steam consumption, as well as improve the quality of the pulp and the yield of pulp per unit of raw material cooked.

siderably less time than with the methods heretofore used. Furthermore, as my chip packing device can be mounted on a truck, it is possible to use one chip packing apparatus for a large number of dgesters without the necessity of providing a special track or trolley for the device. In addition, as I employ adjustable nozzles, I can vary the direction of the fluid medium jets so Y that the device may be employed with digesters of various sizes and shapes.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which`will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of one form of my apparatus shown attached to the neck of a digester.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of thesecond stage diffuser of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of the iirst stage diffuser.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on ISISa the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6 6 oi?l Fis. 4. d 1 f Referring to the drawings,.'I designates the upper end of a chemical pulp digester, and 8 designates the improved packer. Such packer -5 may be readily mounted on a hand truck or the like, vnot shown. The packer preferably comprises an outer tube 9 designed to be introduced into the neck of the digester and provided with an external apertured angeYIU adapted to rest 10 on the upper end of 4the` digester. Projecting lugs II 'may be arranged on the tube so as to maintain the latter in spaced relation to the inner surface of the neck of the digester. whereby an annular passageway I2 is provided to permit 15 the escape of air or the packing medium fluid.

A smaller inner tube I3 is centrifugally arranged in the tube 9, and may be supported by any suitable means, such as a. spider I4. A pipe I5 for the packing uid also aids in supportv20 ing the inner tube, and this pipe may be provided with a control valve I3.

An upper or rst stage diffuser I1 is provided upon the inner tube, and it consists of a series of apertures I8 in the tube which are controlled 25 by a damper ring I 9 that has an operating handle 20 extending through a slot 2I in the larger tube. The damper ring, las best shown in Fig. 6, is provided4 with tangential nozzles 22 corresponding in number to the apertures I8. It will sbe obvious 3o that the turningpf the handle 20 will cause the damper ring I9 -to move relatively to the tube I3, so that the volume of steam or the like discharged through the nozzles may be regulated.

The lower `or second stage diffuser is desig- 35 nated 23, and it comprises a stationary hollow frusto cone 24 that is secured to and depends from the inner tube I3. A hollow rotatable shaft 25 extends through the inner tube, and is provided at its lower end with a rotatable ring 26 40 provided with a series of ports 21.A These ports lead to pipes -28 which terminate in hollow universal or pivotal joints 29 that carry adjustable tangential nozzles 30. Each of these nozzles is pivotally connected by a link 3| to a vertically adjustable member 32', which in Aidr'n is connected to a rod 33 that may be moved up or down by any suitable means, such as a rack 33a and piniogn 34 positioned Within a housing 35 at the 50 top of the inner tube. An operating shaft 36 carries the pinion and has a handle 31 for adjusting purposes. The hollow `shaft may be driven by any suitable means, for example, by a rotatable shaft 38 and beveled gearing 39, the 55 shown. The shaft 38 rotates the shaft 25 inv such a direction that the jets issuing from the nozzles 30 move in the opposite direction. Hence, the jets in striking the chips, will have a tendency to assist the shaft in rotating, this action being [similar to that of a turbine.

In operation, chips, or the like are introduced into the upper end of the tube 8, and as they fall through the tube, they are first acted upon by the jets of steam or the like issuing from the nozzles 22. These jets cause the chips to whirl, and the falling stream is organized into a whirling annulus. When the annulus of chips passes the second diifuser, the jets issuing from the nozzles of the latter not alone increase the whirling action, but transform the annulus into a hollow cone. By turning the handle 31, it will be recognized that the base of such cone may be increased or decreased, and consequently, the

chips may be evenly distributed in the digester.

In the past, chip packers had a tendency to pile the chips with the peak of the pile at the center of the digester. Consequently, the chips would be packed more densely along the vertical center of the digester than at other locations, and this obviously resulted in unequal packing. In accordance with my invention, the chips can be packed in fiat layers, and the action of the diffusers is such as to not only pack the chips with great velocity, but to pack them more densely and uniformly.

After a digester has been packed, the apparatus may be readily lifted off the digester and transferred to another one.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the apparatus in such manner that the construction of the same may be readily understood, it is manifest that my method may be practiced by other similar devices without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A method of packing fibrous material in a digester or the like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material through a passageway into the upper end of the digester, discharging jets of fluid outwardly from the axis of said passageway into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling annular mass, and afterwards discharging other jets of fiuid outwardly from said axis into the mass and thereby causing the mass to assume a substantially conical form while falling into the digester.

2. A method of packing fibrous material in-a digester or Ythe like, comprising introducing a stream of fibrous material into the upper end of the digester, discharging jets of fluid into said stream and thereby organizing the stream into a whirling .annular mass,afterwards introducing other jets of :fluid into the mass and thereby causing the mass to assume a substantially conical form while falling into the digester, and adjusting the last mentioned jets to vary the diameter of the base of the cone-shaped mass.

3. A method of packing wood chips or the like, comprising feeding a stream of falling chips through a passageway into the upper end of a digester, organizingsaid stream into an annular whirling mass by discharging .iets of fluid outwardly from the axis of the passageway into said stream, and afterwardsv introducing other Jets of fluid into whirling massand l thereby continuing the whirling of the mass and l* transforming the same into a hollow cone.

4. A method of packing wood chips or the like, comprising feeding a stream of falling chips into the upper end of a digester, organizing said stream into an annular whirling mass, afterwards continuing the whirling of the mass and transforming the same into a hollow cone, and controllably varying the diameter of the base of the cone.

5. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with tangential nozzles for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, and a second stage diifuser positioned below.the first diffuser and provided with tangential nozzles'for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips.

6. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit pro- 'vided with tangential nozzles for introducing jets of a packing iiuid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned below the first diffuser and provided with tangential nozzles for directing other jets mf the packing fluid into the chips, said first stage diifuser comprising a tube for conveying the packing uid, a series of ports in the tube, a damper ring movably mounted on the tube, said rst mentioned` tangential nozzles being carried by said ring, and means for moving the ring to regulate the volume of fiuid fiowing through the ports to said first mentioned tangential nozzles.

7. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with tangential nozzles for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diuser positioned below the first diffuser andV provided with tangential nozzles for directing other jets of the packing luid into the chips, and means for rotating the nozzles of the second stage diffuser.

8. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with tangential nozzles for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned belowtheflrstdiffuserand provided vwith tangential nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips, said second stage diifuser comprising hollow universal joints carrying the nozzles of the second stage diffuser, and means for radially adjusting the nozzles of the second stage diifuser to cause their outlet ends to approach or, move away from the axis of said conduit.

9. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit pro- Y vided with tangential nozzles for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, a second stage diffuser positioned below the first diifuser and outwardly or inwardly relatively to the axis of said tube.

10. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a rst stage diffuser in the conduit provided with tangential nozzles for introducing jets of a packing uid into the chips, a second stage diiuser positioned below the rst diffuser anc' provided with tangential nozzles for directing other jets of the packing uid into the chips, means for rotating the nozzles of the second stage diffuser, and means for adjusting the nozzles of the second stage diffuser to cause their outlet ends to approach or move away from the axis of said conduit.

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising inner and outer tubes, means for spacing the tubes from one another to provide a chip passageway between the same, means for introducing a packing fluid into the inner tube, a first stage diffuser mounted on the tube and provided with tangential nozzles for discharging jets of iiuid from the tube into said passageway, a rotatable shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying a series of pivotally mounted nozzles at its lower end to provide a second stage diffuser, and means for adjusting said nozzles to cause their outlet ends to approach or move away from the axis of said shaft.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising inner and outer tubes, means for spacing the tubes from one another to provide a chip passageway between the same, means for introducing a packing fluid into the inner tube, a first stage diiuser mounted on the tube and provided with tangential nozzles for discharging jets of fluid from the tube into said passageway, a rotatable shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying a series of pivotally mounted nozzles at its lower end to provide a second stage diffuser, means for adjusting said nozzles lto cause their outlet ends to approach or move away from the axis of said shaft, the last mentioned means comprising a vertically adjustable member, links pivotally connecting said member to the last mentioned nozzles, and a rod extending through the shaft and operatively connected to said member.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising inner and outer tubes, means for spacing the tubes from one another to provide a chip passageway between the same, means for introducing a packing uid into the inner tube, a first stage diffuser mounted on the tube and provided with tangential nozzles for discharging jets of iiuid from the tube into said passageway, a rotatable shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying a series of pivotally mounted nozzles at its lower end to provide a second stage diffuser, means for adjusting said nozzles to cause their outlet ends to approach or move away from the axis of said shaft, the last mentioned means comprising a vertically adjustable member,links pivotally connecting said member to the last mentioned nozzles, a rod extending through the shaft and operatively connected to said member, and means for vertically adjusting said rod.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising inner and outer tubes, means for spacing the tubes from one another to provide a chip v passageway between the same, means for intro.

at its lower end to provide a second stage diffuser,

means for adjusting said nozzles to cause their outlet ends to approach or move away from the axis of said shaft, and a hollow frusto cone positioned at the lower. end of the inner tube and surrounding the nozzles of the second `stage diffuser.

15. A portable chip packer adapted t'o be employed with av number of digesters, comprising an outer tube, means for supporting the tube on the upper end of a digester in such manner that iiuid may escape upwardly between the tube and the neck of the digester, an inner tube concentrically and rigidly arranged within the outer tube, a conduit for introducing a packing uid into the inner tube, an upper rst stage diffuser mounted on the inner tube and provided with a series of.

tangential nozzles which receive uidfrom the inner tube, a hollow frusto cone secured to the lower end of the inner tube, an apertured ring rotatably mounted in said cone, a hollow shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying said ring, nozzles pivotally secured to said ring and having outlet ends adapted to be moved toward or away from the axis of said shaft, and a vertically adjustable rod extending through the hollow shaft and operatively connected to the last mentioned nozzles. A

16. A portable chip packer adapted to be employed with a number of digesters, comprising an outer tube, means for supporting the tube on the upper end of a digester in such manner that fluid may escape upwardly between the tube and the neck of the digester, an inner tube concentrically and rigidly arranged within the outer tube, a conduit for introducing a packing fluid into the inner tube, an upper first stage diffuser mounted on the inner tube and provided with a series of tangential nozzles which receive fluid from the inner tube, a, hollow frusto cone secured to the lower end of the inner tube, an apertured ring rotatably mounted in said cone, a hollow shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying said ring, nozzles pivotally secured to said ring and having outlet ends adapted to be moved toward or away from the axis of said shaft, a vertically adjustable'rod extending through the hollow shaft and operatively connected to the last mentioned nozzles, a housing arranged at the upper end of the inner tube, and means in said housing for rotating said shaft.

17. A portable chip packer adapted to be emf ployed with a number of digesters, comprising an outer tube, means for supporting the tube on the upper end of a digester in such manner that fluid may escape upwardly between the tube and the neck of the digester, an inner tube concentrically and rigidly arranged within the outer tube, a conduit for introducing a packing fluid into-the inner tube, an upper first stage diffuser mounted on the inner tube and provided with a s eries of tangential nozzles which receive uid from the inner tube, a hollow frusto cone secured to the lower end of the inner tube, an apertured ring rotatably mounted in said cone, a hollow shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying said ring, nozzles pivotally secured to said ring outer tube, means for supporting the tube on the upper end of a digester in such manner that uid may escape upwardly between the tube and the neck of the digester, an inner tube concentrically and rigidly arranged within the outer tube, a conduit for introducing a packing fluid into the inner tube, an upper first stage diffuser mounted on the inner tube and provided with a series of tangential nozzles which receive fluid from the inner tube, a hollow frusto-,cone secured to the lower end of the inner tube, an apertured ring rotatably mounted in said cone, a hollow shaft extending through the inner tube and carrying said ring, nozzles pivotally secured to said ring and having outlet ends adapted to be moved toward or away from the axis of said shaft, a vertically adjustable rod extending through the hollow shaft and operatively connected to the last mentioned nozzles, and means for simultaneous- 1y adjusting the nozzles of the first stage diffuser circumferentially relatively to the inner tube for varying the volume of packing fluid issuing from the nozzles of the first stage diffuser.

ployed with a number of digesters, comprising an 19. A chip packing apparatus comprising a conduit through which chips are introduced into a digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with nozzles for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, and a second stage diffuser positioned below the first diffuser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of the packing fluid into the chips,A all of said nozzles projecting outwardly from the axis of said conduit.

20. A chip packing apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical conduit through which chips are introduced into a, digester, a first stage diffuser in the conduit provided with nozzles for introducing jets of a packing fluid into the chips, and a second stage diffuser positioned below the rst diffuser and provided with nozzles for directing other jets of paci' .ng fluid into the chips, all of said nozzles projecting outwardly from the axis of said conduit and having their extremities arranged tangentially to the wall of the conduit.

TETSUO KODA. 

